Save the Date | Call for Nominations | Program Schedule (Coming)
2023 California Ethnic Media Conference Awards & Expo
Sponsored by Ethnic Media Services and California Black Media.
Call for Nominations for outstanding journalism published by/aired in California-based English or in-language ethnic media outlets (print, online, broadcast, social media platforms) between January 1- December 31, 2022. California-based freelance content producers working for a California ethnic news outlet may also apply, with permission from the news outlet where their work appeared.
What is “ETHNIC MEDIA” – Who Qualifies?
Ethnic news outlets are those print, online, broadcast platforms that target a specific audience defined by race, ethnic origin, religious affiliation, gender identity and that publish regularly. Pan-ethnic media outlets target multiple ethnic audiences (such as pan-AAPI, pan African diaspora, pan-immigrant, pan people-of-color, pan LGBTQ+).
Award Categories
PRINT, ONLINE, BROADCAST: Entries will be submitted in the following ten (10) categories:
- Investigative Reporting
Reporting that holds the powerful accountable, that has dug deeply into actions or statements by leaders, influencers, public agencies, or community organizations at the local, regional or state level that are detrimental to individuals or communities. Reporting that credibly challenges official explanations for why an event occurred and that has pushed for and resulted in greater transparency. PRINT OR ONLINE, (1 award for English; 1 award for in-language); BROADCAST (TV and RADIO) 1 award for in-language; 1 award for English). 4 awards in total - Breaking News Reporting
Coverage of a news event (such as a natural disaster, a crime, an accident, an official announcement, a community protest) as close to the time it unfolded as possible, and that highlights aspects that might otherwise go unreported or misreported, including the event’s impact on a specific ethnic community. PRINT OR ONLINE (1 award for in-language; 1 award for English) BROADCAST (TV AND RADIO). 1 award for in-language; 1 award for English) 4 awards - Explanatory Reporting
A story or series of stories (no more than 3) that draw on the reporter’s intimate knowledge of his or her community, including language and/or cultural fluency. Stories written from the inside out, rather than the outside in, that illuminate deeper understanding of a significant, complex subject. PRINT OR ONLINE (1 award for in-language;1 award for English), BROADCAST (TV AND RADIO). 1 award for in-language; 1 award for English). 4 awards - Feature Writing
Writing that profiles individual people and the challenges they contend with (this category could include obituaries), or tells stories of neighborhoods and communities of color, natural landscapes, animal life. These stories are distinguished by high quality writing and do not involve a hard-news event. PRINT OR ONLINE (1 award for in-language; 1 award for English); BROADCAST (TV AND RADIO), 1 award for in-language, 1 award for English. 4 awards - International Reporting
Reporting that explores connections between events in home countries and diaspora communities in the United States and/or that illuminates the impact of US policies on home countries and diaspora communities. PRINT OR ONLINE (1 award for in-language, 1 award for English), BROADCAST (TV & RADIO), 1 award for in-language, 1 award for English. 4 awards. - Editorials and Commentaries
Advocacy of an issue or individual through editorials produced by an ethnic news outlet or commentaries and op-eds produced by a single writer/essayist/columnist for an ethnic news outlet. One to three examples of well reasoned, fact based arguments or compelling moral advocacy that can provoke and influence public debate. PRINT OR ONLINE (1 award for in-language, 1 award for English), BROADCAST )TV AND RADIO) 1 award for in-language, 1 award for English. 4 awards - Outstanding Photography
A single photograph of a breaking news event, a portrait, the natural landscape that tells a powerful story by itself. One award will be selected from entries from both English-language and in-language outlets. PRINT OR ONLINE. 1 award - Outstanding Photo-Essays
A series of photographs (up to 5) that illustrate a photographer’s contributions to a single ethnic media outlet and/or an in-depth exploration of a single topic published by an ethnic media outlet. One award will be selected from entries from both English-language and in-language outlets. PRINT OR ONLINE. 1 award - Outstanding Website
Compelling design, user-friendly navigation. Two awards will be selected, one for in-language, one for English language. ONLINE. 1 award - Social Media
Innovative storytelling through use of social media. Examples could include visual/video excerpts, animated cartoons, graphics presenting maps or data, projecting photographs onto building walls, etc. Two awards will be selected, one for in-language, one for English language. 2 awards
- EMS-CBM Special Award
Outstanding Public Awareness Campaign: An award will be given to a PR/ad firm or public agency for innovative strategies with ethnic media outlets to reach hard-to-reach audiences. 1 award for General Market firms; one award for ethnic firms 2 awards.
Citations
EMS-CBM’s Advisory Board will also issue special citations in recognition of:
- UPSTART: New media platforms reaching niche audiences
- CAREER ACHIEVER: veteran ethnic media leaders who beat the odds
- SECTOR CONNECTORS: partnerships between ethnic media and non-profit CBOs
- CROSS-RACIAL, CROSS-ETHNIC COVERAGE: Reporting on ethnic communities outside the specific audience an ethnic media outlet serves
EMS-CBM will also showcase on a revolving slideshow:
- IN MEMORY – recognizing leaders in the field who died in the last two (2) years
- CHAMPIONS – EMS-CBM will recognize sponsors and longtime champions of the sector
- Judges who participated in selecting the EMS-CBM awards
Judging
By leaving the categories open in terms of subject matter, EMS and CBM are inviting ethnic media entrants to identify the topics they are passionate about and/or that are of deep concern to the audiences they serve. These can encompass stories about the persistence of health care disparities, the uptick in hate crimes, the impact of extreme weather to the rising popularity of ethnic foods, the future of micro-businesses in downtowns, portraits of celebrities in sports and entertainment.
In language print and online entries using print and online formats will be judged separately from English language categories. There will be at least two first-place winners in each category – one for in-language media and one for English language media – or 12 first place winners overall for print and online; 12 first place winners overall for TV & Radio. Second place winners and finalists will also be announced in the program guide.
Photography entries will be judged together from both English-language and in-language platforms, with one winner for each category.
TV and radio entries will be judged together, with one winner for in-language and one winner for English for each category.
Judges will prize the originality of the topics covered, the diligence and credibility of the reporting, the uniqueness of the information provided, the use of multi-media story telling formats (i.e. video or audio excerpts, photography, data visualization, interactive graphics, creative use of social media.), the impact of the story on the community served.
Judges will be asked to review submissions in a specific category and to select three finalists per category which will then be reviewed by an EMS-CBM advisory board to determine the winners. Judges will include people with linguistic and/or cultural fluency, knowledge of the ethnic news media sector, and/or expertise in fields ethnic media cover, such as politics, health care, the economy, education, the environment, social justice issues, sports-food-entertainment.
How to Submit Entries
All entries must be submitted online by June 30, 2023
An entry must indicate the category in which it is submitted and include a photograph, picture and contact information of any freelance journalist who has applied independently and the outlet where the entry was published or aired.
No more than one entry per category per news outlet or independent journalist is permitted.
No more than seven entries – one for each category – are allowed per ethnic news outlet or individual news reporter. If the entry involves a series of articles, the maximum number of articles per series is three.
Two or more ethnic media outlets that partnered on a specific reporting project should submit entries under the name of 1-2 lead outlets with all media that participated listed on the application form.
Audio or Video entries need to be submitted as URLs.
Print and online entries need to be submitted as URLs or PDFs.
In-language print and online submissions require an English language translation along with the in-language entry. If the entry is a video or audio submission, there must be an English-language summary (300 words max) of what it is about and/or English language subtitles.
Costs
The EMS-CBM awards require no submission fees.
Each award winner will receive a cash prize of $1000 plus a free ticket to the Expo & Awards. Second place winners will receive $400 plus a free ticket to the Expo & Awards. Finalists each receive a certificate and will be announced during the Awards ceremony and will be featured along with the Award winners on a special landing page of the EMS website.
Please click the link below to attend the Expo & Awards on Aug. 31 between 12-9 pm. If you are a media outlet and are interested in exhibiting during the expo please contact Dana Levine – levine.s.dana@gmail.com or 415-378-2486.
